Coupling for banana-crates and the like.



w. w. CLARK. CQUPLING FOR BANANA CRATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILEDJAN- 14' I915.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

I inventor Witnesses I Attorneys T OLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 10., WASHINGTON, D- C.

WILLIAM WALLACE CLARK, or MASON CITY, IOWA.

COUPLING FOR BANANA-CRATES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Apr. 11, 191.6.

Application filed January 14, 1915. Serial No. 2,230.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILLIAM WALLAon CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mason City, in the county of Cerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Coupling for Banana-Crates and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a device for detachably coupling together, the sections of a banana crate, or other sectional structure, and aims to provide a novel and improved appliance of that character, whereby the sections of the crate will be held or locked together in a substantial manner for carrying a bunch of bananas therein, and whereby when the crate is empty, the sections thereof may be detached and nested compactly or snugly together, for purpose of return shipment at a minimum expense.

It is also the object of the invention, to provide a coupling for use in sectional crates, and other structures, embodying a pair of members or parts having unique engageable portions for holding the sections of the crate in assembled relation, and for enabling the sections of the crate to be detached when desired.

It is also within. the scope of this invention, to provide a coupling for the purposes above mentioned, which will be comparatively simple, non-encumbering and inexpensive in construction, as well as being convenient, practical and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a banana crate embodying the improved couplings, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan or end view of the crate. Fig. 3 is a plan or end view of the crate in nested arrangement for purpose of return shipment when the crate is not in use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of one of the improved couplings, parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe coupling with the parts or members thereof detached.

In the drawing, wherein the couplings are applied to a sectional banana crate, the crate comprises a pair of mating or complementing arcuate or semi-cylindrical wooden sections 1, each of which constitutes a plurality of arcuate strips 2, and a plurality of longitudinal strips or slats 3 nailed orotherwise secured to the arcuate strips 2.

In carrying out the present invention, metallic couplings 4 are employed for detachably securing together the sections 1 of the crate, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the couplings embodying'a pair of members or parts 5 and 6, which are pref erably, although not necessarily, secured to the adjacent end portions of the opposite arcuate strips 2 of the crate sections. The members 5 and 6 of each coupling are provided with interengageable portions or means, which will be described presently.

The member 6 of the coupling is provided at that end adjacent the member 5, with a rectangular opening 7 providing the longitudinal parallel portions 8 along the edges of the member 6, and a cross bar 8 connecting the ends of the portions 8 at the said end of the member6. The member 6 is also provided with a cross pin 9 between the portions 8 and adjacent that end of the opening 7 remote from the cross bar 8 the cross or keeper pin 9 being disposed between the sides of the member 6 so as to 'bespaced therefrom. The portions 8 of the member 6 are provided with recesses or cutaway portions 10 extending from the cross bar 8' or the'corresponding end of the member 6, to a point short of the cross pin 9, and arranged at the outer side of the member 6, those ends of the recesses 10 adjacent or nearest the pin 9 being provided withnotches or undercut portions 11. The recesses 10 are arranged to snugly receive and accommodate the adjacent end of the coupling member 5, and the notches 11 are arranged to receive and hold the end of the coupling member 5, as clearly apparent by reference to Fig. 4, whereby the outer sides of the coupling members will be flush when they are assembled.

The end of the coupling member 5 adjacent the coupling member 6, and which is receivable by the recesses 10 and notches 11, is provided with atongue bent to form a hook 12 insertible into the opening 7 of the coupling member 6 and engageable behind the cross pin or keeper 9. The tongue or hook 12 is narrower than the coupling mem- I ber 5, and the bend of the hook 12 faces the inner side of the coupling member 5. The coupling members 5 and 6 are preferably of the same width, whereby their edges will be flush when they are assembled, and in order that the hook 12 may engage within the opening 7 and behind the pin or keeper 9, while the edge portions of the corresponding end of the coupling member 5 are received by the recesses 10 and notches 11. A leaf spring 13 has its basal end secured to the inner side or back of the member 6, adjacent the opening 7, and projects behind the pin 9, within the opening 7.

A plurality of the couplings 4 are employed upon the crate, at the opposite edges of the crate sections 1, the members or parts 5 and 6 of the couplings being secured by rivets, bolts or other securing members, to the outer sides of the arcuate strips or pieces 2 adjacent the ends thereof so as to be located adjacent the edges of the crate sections for interengagement when the crate sections are assembled. To interengage the members of each coupling, the coupling member 5 has its hook 12 introduced and inserted within the opening 7 of the coupling member 6, and then forced or snapped between the pin 9 and spring 13, so that the hook 12 will be engaged behind the pin 9 between the portions 8 of the coupling mem ber 6. The spring 13 behind each of the pins 9 is yieldable to enable the hook 12 to snap between the said spring and the pin 9, and whereby the said spring will hold the hook 12 in engagement with the pin or keeper 9. When the hook 12 is engaged to the pin 9, the adjacent end of the coupling member 5 will be received snugly within the recesses 10 and notches 11 to rest against the cross bar 8 of the coupling member 6, to hold the coupling members together in a substantial and compact manner, and which will enable the crate to be rolled or handled without interference or inconvenience. Thus, by coupling the coupling members of the various couplings together, the crate sections may be assembled, and held together in a substantial manner, for carrying a bunch tion, to reduce the freight or express charges, and whereby a large number of the crates may be nested together within a small compass. Thus, the sections 1 of the crate may be detached by disengaging or snapping the hooks 12 of the coupling members 5 from between the pins 9 and springs, and the crate sections may then be nested together, as suggested in Fig. 3. It is evident that a large number of crate sections may be nested together in the manner illustrated, to occupy a much less space than when the crates are in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which is the ordinary practice.

The springs 18 tend to hold the hooks 12 engaged to the pins 9, whereby when the coupling members are detached at one side, the coupling members at the other side may act as hinges to enable the crate sections to swing apart, without detaching them completely.

hat is claimed is A two part coupling, one part having an opening adjacent one end and forming longitudinal portions, the said part also having a cross pin within the said opening and between the said longitudinal portions, the other part having a hook at one end insertible within the said opening and engageable behind the said pin, the said longitudinal portions of the first mentioned part having recesses extending from the said end of the first mentioned part to a point short of the said pin and adapted for receiving the said endportion of the second mentioned part, and said recesses having notches at those ends adjacent the pin and for receiving the said end of the second mentioned part.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WALLACE CLARK.

Witnesses:

T. G. MODERMOTT, V. H. CoLLs'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eacn, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

